Your doctor might find them during a pelvic exam — larger uterine fibroids cause your uterus to change shape. Also, an ultrasound can be used to tell if you have fibroids.

How common are uterine fibroids?

According to the US National Library of Medicine, as many as one in five women get fibroids during their childbearing years. Most women don’t even know they have them because they have no symptoms!

How did I get uterine fibroids?

There is no known cause of uterine fibroids, but genetics, hormones and chemicals in your body may affect your chances of getting them.

How will uterine fibroids affect my baby?

Luckily, they usually don’t interfere with pregnancy. It’s possible that uterine fibroids can change the shape of or block your fallopian tubes, which can affect future pregnancies. In some cases, doctors may recommend removing problematic fibroids before you get pregnant. You might experience some pain in your lower abdomen — if you do, ask your doctor what you should do. Most of the time, you can take medication for the pain. In some cases, uterine fibroids can increase the risk of miscarriage, preterm birth or breech birth. You could also have a greater chance of getting a c-section or heavy bleeding after labor.

What’s the best way to treat uterine fibroids?

More often than not, fibroids are nothing more than a pain in the belly, so don’t let them worry you too much unless your symptoms grow problematic.

What can I do to prevent uterine fibroids?

There’s no specific way to prevent fibroids, but don’t worry — most fibroids are harmless and won’t need treatment.

What do other pregnant moms do when they have uterine fibroids?

“I had one with my last pregnancy. My OB told me that they’re very common and tend to grow owing to all the pregnancy hormones. Fortunately, it didn’t interfere with the pregnancy.”

"My doctor told me I had one with my second ultrasound. He told me not to freak out about it and not to go home and search on the Internet, because it shouldn’t be a big deal.”

"I have a few; the largest is three centimeters. My doctor isn’t worried at all about them. She says they aren’t a big deal at all and a lot of women have them and they’re totally fine. They might grow, but they’ll shrink after pregnancy.”